10 Wild Parties Around the World

The biggest party on the planet is waiting for you: You're invited to join in a city-wide food fight, a full-moon rager, a desert extravaganza, and more.

Full Moon Party, Thailand

Held either the night before or after the full moon, these all-night ragers draw
as many as 30,000 people. Revellers drop in to bars and clubs along the
beach to dance and indulge in liquor sold in buckets. There are several
huge sound systems along the beach, and partiers can hear a range of
music from R&B to trance and house. Although these parties have been
associated with drug use, authorities on the island are reportedly
cleaning up the celebrations.

La Tomatina, Spain

Tomato juice flows through the streets of Bunol on the last Wednesday of August as revellers take part in the world’s largest tomato fight.
Festivities begin in the town square where there is a huge pole covered
in soap and with a leg of ham at the top. Participants try to scramble
up the pole to retrieve the ham as onlookers throw buckets of water on
the crowd from balconies above. After a gun is fired to signal the
beginning of the fight, huge trucks carrying tomatoes appear. People
grab their ammunition and pelt each other in the streets until the
pistol sounds again, marking the end of the event.

Carnival of Ivrea, Italy

This annual carnival
celebrates the city’s liberation from a baron who starved citizens
during Medieval times. As the story goes, a miller’s daughter roused the
town to revolt and drive out the baron. The event, which takes place
the week before Lent, is perhaps best known for its raucous Battle of
the Oranges. Teams gather in the city’s main squares to re-enact the
citizen’s rebellion by lobbing oranges at one another. Anyone can join a
team to participate, but you might want to wear your raincoat and
Wellies.

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Holi, India

This spring festival is celebrated throughout the country in late
February or early March. The two-day event commemorates the legend of
Prahlad, a devotee of the god Vishnu, who escaped unharmed from the fire
of the evil Holika Dahan. Revellers mark the event by lighting
bonfires, throwing perfumed colored powder on one another and partying
wildly. Children load colored water into toy pistols called pichkari
and take aim at passersby. Holi is known as a joyous celebration of the
triumph of good over evil and is a time when people of all ages and
social status come together.

Fasnacht, Switzerland

This is the biggest party in Switzerland
with roughly 20,000 masked revellers taking part. Festivities kick off
at four in the morning on the Monday after Ash Wednesday, when all the
lights in the city go out and groups of costumed pipers and drummers
parade through the town with lanterns. Celebrations continue throughout
the week with lots of drinking and singing. Some groups act out notable
events from the previous year in what’s known as the Schnitzelbängg.

Burning Man, Nevada

This infamous festival began in 1986 with the burning of a large-scale
effigy to mark the summer solstice. It’s since grown into a week-long annual event
that draws more than 48,000 people to the Black Rock Dessert. Held
during the week before Labor Day, participants set up camp in the
desert to celebrate art, self-expression and self-reliance. Each year
has a theme which artists are encouraged to interpret through
installations and performances. “Mutant vehicles,” redesigned cars and
trucks, are staples of the event, as is the burning of a 40-foot “Man” structure.

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Songkran, Thailand

This festival marks the Thai New Year, which is celebrated in the second week of April. This is the hottest time of the year in Thailand, so it makes sense that the biggest Songkran
tradition is to throw water on people. A soaking is considered a
blessing and it’s a sacred practice. Traditionally, people would bestow
blessings by pouring scented water on each other’s hands. But today,
Thais of all ages engage in full-blown water fights, using buckets,
hoses and water guns to celebrate the event.

Bay to Breakers, San Francisco

This is a 12k race and party rolled into one. Held annually in late May,
it’s one of the oldest foot races in the world and draws more than
50,000 participants. What makes Bay to Breakers
so much fun is that many people run in wacky costumes. There’s a
costume contest offering prizes for categories including Most Original,
Best Group and Best Musical Theme. Several live bands provide a lively
soundtrack along the route.

Celtic Colours Festival, Cape Breton

For nine days in October, Cape Breton is alive with Celtic culture from all over the world. This annual festival
draws more than 10,000 visitors to celebrate with music, dance and
events in communities across the island. Craft workshops, lectures on
Celtic history and square dances are all on offer, as are community
meals where visitors and community members come together over
home-cooked food. Artists get together for an informal jam session at
the Festival Club, located at the Gaelic College in St. Ann’s, where the
bar is open until 3 am.

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Glastonbury Festival of Performing Arts, England

The largest greenfield performing arts festival in the world, Glastonbury
takes place over 900 acres in the Vale of Avalon, where King Arthur is
rumored to be buried. Attendees camp on the grounds and participate in a
weekend of workshops, parties, cabarets and an impressive line-up of
live music. In past years, performers have included U2, Paul Simon,
Beyonce and B.B. King, to name a few.